International Journal of Zoology Studies

International Journal of Zoology Studies ISSN: 2455-7269 Impact Factor: RJIF 5.14 www.zoologyjournals.com Volume 2; Issue 6; November 2017; Page No. 135-137

Physicochemical analysis of water samples from three polluted sites of , ,

*1 Miriam Cecilia Vassou, 2 R Balamurugan, 3 Mohideen Askar Nawas, 4 Samuel Tennyson, 5 Rajasingh Raveen, 6 Subramanian Arivoli 1, 2, 3 Department of Zoology, Periyar EVR. College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India 4, 5 Department of Zoology, Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Department of Zoology, Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract Water quality affects the biotic community of an aquatic ecosystem ultimately reducing the primary productivity and several altered physicochemical factors could cause stress thereby adversely affecting aquatic fauna. The physicochemical characteristics of water collected from three sites of , Tamil Nadu, India viz., sugarcane waste mixing zone at Pettavaithalai (Site 1), oil effluent mixing zone at Edamalaipattiputhur (Site 2) and sewage effluent mixing zone at Palakarai (Site 3). Various physicochemical parameters were assessed using standard methods for the examination of water samples from the above mentioned three sites. On comparison with the parameters under the International Standards, water sample from Pettavaithalai showed high calcium, sulphate and nitrate levels when compared to water sample from Edamalaipattiputhur. Water sample from Palakarai showed a lower level of contamination. Further studies should be carried out to check the efficiency of treating the water samples and reusing the same for further use.

Keywords: physicochemical parameters, water quality, Tiruchirappalli district

1. Introduction of water collected from three sites of Tiruchirappalli district, Life is not possible on this planet without water as it is one of Tamil Nadu, India. the most indispensable resources and is the elixir of life. Good quality water is essential for all living organisms and the 2. Materials and Methods characteristics of water affect the survival, growth and Tiruchirappalli district (10°08'11°30' N; 79°48'79°30' E), reproduction of aquatic organisms. A change in water quality Tamil Nadu, India is situated on the banks of the river affects the biotic community of an aquatic ecosystem Cauvery It is centrally located in Tamil Nadu with an area ultimately reducing the primary productivity and several 11,098Km2. The northeastern part of Tiruchirappalli district is deviated physicochemical factors could cause stress thereby occupied by alluvium of the river Cauvery while the residual adversely affecting the aquatic fauna. In this respect a regular hills are seen in the northeastern part of the city. It is an inland monitoring of water quality is essential to determine the status city without any coastline. The water samples taken for the of water bodies with reference to aquatic fauna. Water quality investigation were obtained from three sites of Tiruchirappalli assessment generally involves analysis of physicochemical, district, viz., sugarcane waste mixing zone at Pettavaithalai biological and microbiological parameters and reflects on (Site 1), oil effluent mixing zone at Edamalaipattiputhur (Site abiotic and biotic status of the ecosystem [1-5]. The problem of 2) and sewage effluent mixing zone at Palakarai (Site 3). The water pollution is mainly linked with human activities in both various physicochemical parameters, viz., colour, pH, the developed as well as the developing countries. It upsets the temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), free carbon dynamic balance in the aquatic ecosystem. Studies have been dioxide, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), calcium, Total carried out on ecological condition of freshwater bodies in Alkalinity (TA), Phenolphthalein Alkalinity (PA), chloride, various parts of India [6-10] but with regard to the southern part fluoride, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate were carried by the of Tamil Nadu, it is scanty [11]. Tiruchirappalli is one of the standard methods for the examination of water and waste most important industrial cities in Tamil Nadu situated on the water [12-14]. bank of river Cauvery. Ground water is the principle source of drinking water in rural areas of India and it is indispensable 3. Results and Discussion source of life. The problems of ground water quality are more Water is one of the most important commodities, which man acute in the areas which are densely populated and thickly has exploited than any other resources for the sustenance of industrialized. Therefore an attempt has been made to assess his life. It is not only the basic need for human existence but the quality of water in and around the district of also a vital input for all development activities. The use of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India and the present study has water for drinking and other domestic purposes is generally been planned to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics conceded to be its highest and most essential purpose.

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Pollution of water bodies is increasing steadily due to rapid phosphate [19]. Further, the phosphate values of all the ground population growth, industrial proliferation, urbanization, water samples did not pose any problem to the quality of increasing living standards, and wide sphere of human water [20]. The value of fluoride for the water samples were activities. The physciochemical parameters obtained from the recorded between 1.61 and 3.61mg/L. The maximum water samples of the three study sites are presented in Table 1. permissible limit of fluoride according to WHO is 1.0ppm. The pH value is an important factor in maintaining the The fluoride values for all the ground water samples were carbonate and bicarbonate levels in water. The pH values were above the permissible limit. The high concentration of fluoride acidic for water samples in all the sampling stations. The mild in ground water may be due to break down of rocks and soils alkalinity indicates the presence of weak basic salts in the soil or infiltration of chemical fertilizers from agricultural land. [15]. The pH values are found to be within the permissible limit Skeletal fluorosis is an important disease due to the presence of WHO in all the water samples. No abnormal changes in of high fluoride content in ground water [21]. On comparison water samples were recorded. EC is the ability of water to with the parameters under the international standards [22], carry an electrical current. The importance of electrical water sample from Pettavaithalai showed high calcium, conductivity is its measure of salinity, which greatly affect the sulphate and nitrate levels when compared to water sample taste and has significant impact of the user acceptance of the from Edamalaipatti puthur. Water sample from Palakarai water as potable [16]. The higher the ionisable salts, the greater showed a lower level of contamination. will be the EC. High EC affects the germination of crops and There are several causes of water pollution. The main causes it may result in much reduced yield [17]. EC was found to be are rapid urbanization which during recent decades has given below the permissible limits set by WHO. The value of TDS rise to a number of environmental problems, viz., water for all the water samples ranged from 220 to 248mg/L. TDS supply, wastewater generation and its collection, treatment denote various types of minerals present in water in the and disposal. Many towns and cities which came up on the dissolved form. The water samples showed higher values of banks of rivers have not given a proper thought to safe TDS and were well above the permissible limit of WHO disposal of wastewater, sewage, etc. In urban areas, water is (500ppm). It may be due to percolation of sewage and tapped for domestic and industrial use from rivers, streams, industrial effluents. The accumulation of organic and lakes, ponds, wells, etc. Nearly 80% of the water supplied for inorganic solids also contributes to high TDS [18]. The value of domestic use passes out as wastewater. In most cases, this chloride for all the water samples ranged from 182 to wastewater is let out untreated and causes large scale pollution 397mg/L. Excess chloride (<250ppm) imparts a salty taste to of the surface water and a part of it percolates into the ground water. Excessive chloride in potable water is particularly not and contaminates the ground water. Treated or partly treated harmful but the criteria set for chloride value is based on its or untreated wastewater disposed into natural drains joins potentially high corrosiveness. Soil porosity and permeability rivers or lakes or are used on land for irrigation/fodder also plays an important role in building up chloride in water cultivation or to the sea or a combination of them by the [16]. Increase of chloride in water is injurious to people who are municipalities. Municipal water treatment facilities in India, at affected with heart and kidney diseases. High concentration of present, do not remove traces of heavy metals. According to chloride is considered to be an indicator of pollution due to estimates made by the Central Pollution Control Board contamination by organic waste of animals and from (CPCB), only 22% of the wastewater from cities and 14% industries [16]. The value of calcium for all the water samples from rural area is being collected through sewerage. A large ranged from 258 to 390mg/L. Calcium may dissolve readily number of cities/towns either do not have any sewerage from calamite rocks and limestone or leached from soils and is system or the sewerage system is overloaded or defunct. The an essential nutritional element for human being and aids in other significant contributors of wastewater are paper mills, maintaining the structure of plant cells and soils. In the present steel plants, textiles and sugar industries. The major study, the calcium values were found above the maximum contributors in terms of organic load are distilleries followed permissible limit (200ppm) which may be due to the cationic by paper mills [23]. Given the fact that heavily polluted rivers ion exchanges with sodium [17]. The nitrate values are found to are the major sources of municipal water for most towns and be in the range of 300 to 450mg/L. Most of the water samples cities along their courses and it is believed that every were polluted and the nitrate in water may be responsible for consumer has been, over the years, exposed to unknown the growth of blue green algae [15]. The sulphate values were quantities of pollutants in water they have consumed. To add recorded within the range of 400 and 800mg/L. All the water to this, Indian towns and cities have grown in an unplanned samples were found to be above the permissible limit of WHO manner due to rapid population growth. Most Indian rivers (250ppm). Phosphate in water samples ranged between 0.13 and other sources of fresh water are polluted by industrial and 0.66mg/L and were found above the permissible limit of wastes or effluents. All these industrial waste are toxic to life 0.1ppm of WHO. Normally ground water contains only a forms that consume this water. Therefore, further studies can minimum phosphorous level because of the low solubility of be carried out to check the efficiency of treating the water native phosphate minerals and the ability of soils to retain samples and reusing the same for further use.

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Table 1: Physicochemical parameters of water samples obtained from three sites of Tiruchirapplai district, Tamil Nadu, India

S. No. Parameters Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Physical parameters 1. Colour Pale yellow Pale yellow Pale yellow 2. pH 4.7 5.02 5.4 3. Temperature (°F) 25.8 26.4 26.2 4. Electrical conductivity (mmhos/I) 1.8 2.3 2.7 Chemical parameters (mg/L) 5. Free carbon dioxide as CaCO3 190.0 105.0 80.0 6. Total dissolved solids 340.0 480.0 220.0 7. Calcium 390.6 277.2 258.3 8. Phenolphthalein alkalinity 9.4 7.2 6.4 9. Total alkalinity 12.0 8.0 6.0 10. Chloride 397.9 218.7 182.1 11. Fluoride 3.61 2.5 1.6 12. Nitrate 450.0 350.0 300.0 13. Phosphate 0.7 0.3 0.1 14. Sulphate 800.0 550.0 400.0

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